Published: Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 6:36 p.m.

Locals will dive into the mud and run through an even muddier obstacle course with their coworkers, friends and family to benefit Hands On! in May.

The 3-mile Mad Mountain Mud Run is returning May 31 for its third year at Berkeley Park on Balfour Road in Hendersonville.

“The numbers have already grown as far as the number of people who are participating and have registered, and we're looking forward to having new obstacles and challenges,” Hands On! Executive Director Heather Boeke said. Details about those new obstacles won't be released, however, so that racers will be surprised as they make their way through the course.

When Hands On! had to renegotiate its mortgage, Boeke said they knew the nonprofit would have to start making much larger payments. She got together with a group of volunteers to come up with a plan to help offset the cost.

“We sat at a coffee shop and talked about ideas of what could be unique and fun for the area and not just benefit Hands On! financially, but really become part of our community,” Boeke said.

Since its beginning, Boeke said she's noticed a large number of corporate groups and families sign up for the event, which has led to a lot of great, muddy teambuilding.

“It's fun to play in the mud, so I think that we all remember some time in our life that we enjoyed just getting dirty with friends and having a good time and laughing, and that's what it's all about, really,” Boeke said. “The people on the course are laughing and having a good time and they choose their competitive level.”

The Masters of Mud is the most competitive category, followed by Murky Mud Mates for those in between and Nitty Gitty Mud Lovers for those teams just coming out to have fun.

Members of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce ran the inaugural race together in 2012.

“It was a lot of fun getting the staff out together as kind of a nice teambuilding opportunity, which was very different than anything we'd done before,” Chamber President Bob Williford said. “It was really a lot of fun, and a couple of us really got to know each other in a different way.”

Hands On! will host its Family Mud Fun night for children 11 years old and younger the night prior to the race.

“We provide all the muddy games and activities and worms for them to play with, and a 1-mile mud run just for them so that they are a part of it as well,” Boeke said.

The race only allows a limited number of participants. For more details or to register a team, visit www.madmountainmudrun.com.

<p>Locals will dive into the mud and run through an even muddier obstacle course with their coworkers, friends and family to benefit Hands On! in May. </p><p>The 3-mile Mad Mountain Mud Run is returning May 31 for its third year at Berkeley Park on Balfour Road in Hendersonville.</p><p>“The numbers have already grown as far as the number of people who are participating and have registered, and we're looking forward to having new obstacles and challenges,” Hands On! Executive Director Heather Boeke said. Details about those new obstacles won't be released, however, so that racers will be surprised as they make their way through the course. </p><p>When Hands On! had to renegotiate its mortgage, Boeke said they knew the nonprofit would have to start making much larger payments. She got together with a group of volunteers to come up with a plan to help offset the cost. </p><p>“We sat at a coffee shop and talked about ideas of what could be unique and fun for the area and not just benefit Hands On! financially, but really become part of our community,” Boeke said. </p><p>Funds from the event cover roughly 20 percent of the children's gallery's annual operating expenses.</p><p>Since its beginning, Boeke said she's noticed a large number of corporate groups and families sign up for the event, which has led to a lot of great, muddy teambuilding. </p><p>“It's fun to play in the mud, so I think that we all remember some time in our life that we enjoyed just getting dirty with friends and having a good time and laughing, and that's what it's all about, really,” Boeke said. “The people on the course are laughing and having a good time and they choose their competitive level.”</p><p>The Masters of Mud is the most competitive category, followed by Murky Mud Mates for those in between and Nitty Gitty Mud Lovers for those teams just coming out to have fun. </p><p>Members of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce ran the inaugural race together in 2012. </p><p>“It was a lot of fun getting the staff out together as kind of a nice teambuilding opportunity, which was very different than anything we'd done before,” Chamber President Bob Williford said. “It was really a lot of fun, and a couple of us really got to know each other in a different way.” </p><p>Hands On! will host its Family Mud Fun night for children 11 years old and younger the night prior to the race. </p><p>“We provide all the muddy games and activities and worms for them to play with, and a 1-mile mud run just for them so that they are a part of it as well,” Boeke said. </p><p>The race only allows a limited number of participants. For more details or to register a team, visit www.madmountainmudrun.com.</p><p>___</p><p>Reach Bindewald at 694-7890 or renee.bindewald@blueirdgenow.com.</p>